In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 128

EPISODE 128

Cordelia glanced to the side at the quiet exclamation. A girl with brown hair braided down her back looked over with a surprised expression.  

“Hello! Um… Fairy?”  

As the girl’s voice shrank, so did Cordelia’s memory, expanding its volume instead. She was one of the girls Cordelia had met at this bookstore before.  

Wow, she met her again.  

“Wow, it’s been a while! How have you been?”  

As Cordelia approached and greeted her warmly, the girl finally seemed to relax, letting out a sigh of relief.  

“Why do you have that look?”  

“I thought maybe I was the only one who could see you.”  

“With the way you’re looking at me, there seem to be too many eyes on us.”  

Cordelia shrugged lightly, and the girl glanced at her repeatedly, specifically at the hair swaying near her ears. Cordelia deliberately tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled.  

“I cut it a bit for some reason. Does it suit me?”  

“Uh, yes! I think it looks much better than before!”  

Seeing the girl’s genuine gaze, Cordelia began to feel a sense of doubt.  

She doesn’t seem to know anything about her. Looking at her youthful face, maybe she hasn’t debuted in society yet.  

Given the many eyes around them, Cordelia hesitated to speak directly about it. Instead, she leaned in closer and whispered.

“By the way, how old are you?”  

The girl’s stunningly beautiful face suddenly came close, and she seemed startled, responding flusteredly.  

“I’m seventeen now!”  

Following Cordelia’s lead, the girl lowered her voice. Her sparkling eyes suggested she was imagining something amusing.  

“Seventeen? But you said you’re married.”  

“Oh, that’s my friend. She’s two years older than me. She’s been married for two years now.”  

The girl rambled on with unsolicited information and then scanned Cordelia’s outfit.  

“Um, Fairy?”  

“Yes?”  

“Is it okay to ask your name now?”  

Seeing the girl ask so maturely, Cordelia covered her mouth and chuckled. The girl still seemed uncertain, so Cordelia readily replied.  

“Cordelia.”  

“Pardon?”  

“My name. What’s yours?”  

“I’m Sophia Eloise. Please call me Sophie! Did you come to buy a book?”  

“Seems like it. Did you enjoy the book you bought last time?”  

“I did. Although I decided to postpone marriage after all.”  

“Right, getting married at seventeen is still too early. You should try everything you want to do first.”  

Nodding vigorously, the girl agreed.  

“Isn’t that right? My father isn’t too pleased…”  

“What does he do?”  

“He’s in trade. I don’t know much about it, though.”  

Cordelia had a hunch since earlier, but it seemed that Sophie was of commoner status. The hesitation in stating her surname indicated she likely came from a family without a last name. Since only nobles frequented high society, they might never have crossed paths if she hadn’t come to the bookstore.

Thinking about it, it was peculiar. These moments of encountering things she would have never known if she had just walked the path given to her.  

“Cordelia.”  

At the sound of a soft voice calling her, Cordelia glanced to the side. Noah, standing a step behind her, slightly bowed his head toward her.  

“I think the book you’re looking for is over there.”  

“Is that why you stepped away?”  

“It seemed like you met someone you were glad to see.”  

Hearing that he had tactfully given them space, Cordelia gently stroked Noah’s cheek as if to praise him. Then, she turned her gaze to Sophie, who was standing there awkwardly.  

“He’s with me.”  

“I’m Noah. May I ask your name, lady?”  

“I’m Sophie. Nice to meet you!”  

She seemed even more flustered now than when she had been talking to Cordelia.  

As Sophie stood there with a flushed face, staring intensely, Cordelia glanced at the handsome face beside her with half-closed eyes. Even though he was her lover, his good looks were troublesome.  

Even without looking around, she could feel the gazes prickling her cheeks. Cordelia could bet her coin purse that some of those stares were directed at Noah.  

Cordelia casually pulled Noah closer and linked her arm with his, looking up at him with a sweet smile.  

“Shall we go then, Noah?”  

Of course, she had no intention of letting people admire him for too long.  

As they made their way to the counter, they soon found the book Cordelia had been looking for. The cover read <The Song of Sel and Jay>, with the pen name Gale Plants elegantly written beneath it.  

“Oh, I read that too!”  

Seemingly bored of being alone, Sophie had followed them and, glancing at the cover, chimed in.  

“Oh, really? What did you think?”  

Cordelia asked playfully, and Sophie leaned in close enough that only Cordelia could hear her whisper.  

“Well, I thought it was a bit underwhelming, considering its popularity.”  

“Why are you saying that so close?”  

“You never know. The author might be in this bookstore. What if they overhear us talking like that?”  

“Ah, you have a point.”  

As Cordelia answered nonchalantly, Noah internally shook his head. He thought back to how their first encounter had been under such strange circumstances, and moments like this made her seem like a completely different person.  

“So, Sophie, what kind of books do you like?”  

“I like romantic stories.”  

“Do you not think adventure can be romantic?”  

“Well, it’s not that. It’s just that the narratives in adventure stories don’t feel romantic to me.”  

As they chatted while casually browsing the bookstore, Cordelia picked out several books, including <The Song of Sel and Jay>. Noah, standing beside her, naturally took the books and headed to the counter to pay.  

“Wait, just a moment!”  

After finishing the payment, Noah carried the books out to the carriage. Cordelia, however, encountered Sophie once again as the girl chased after her outside the bookstore.

“Since this seems like fate… would you like to come over for tea at my house?”  

Sophie asked, clearly determined, her voice filled with resolve. Cordelia smiled warmly in response. She appreciated the gesture, but the fact was, she wasn’t alone.  

If she asked Noah, there was no way he’d refuse, given his nature. But lately, Cordelia had realized just how possessive he could be, even though he was so accustomed to holding back.  

Suppressing the smirk threatening to spread across her lips, Cordelia tried her best to look politely conflicted.  

“Well, I’m not sure. We might be short on time…”  

“Excuse me, are you Lady Sophia?”  

A calm voice sliced through their conversation. A well-dressed man was looking at the two of them.  

Cordelia frowned slightly at the interruption, and as soon as Sophie saw the man, she reflexively grabbed Cordelia’s wrist as if it were a lifeline.  

“Sir Olivier, how did you…?”  

Do they know each other? Cordelia’s question was soon answered.  

“I came to speak with you about the marriage proposal. I heard you visit this bookstore frequently.”  

Judging by the title “sir,” the man seemed to be a knight. But wait, that wasn’t the important part.  

Cordelia’s gaze subtly scanned the man’s neat appearance. Dark brown hair, brown eyes, a slightly angular jaw, and a rather solid build. And most notably…  

‘He looks about the same age as me.’  

This scene felt oddly familiar, and Cordelia had to stifle a sigh. There’s always one persistent man, no matter where you go.  

“I appreciate your offer, but I’m not thinking about marriage right now.”  

“Yes, I’ve heard. But if it’s too much pressure, perhaps we could at least have a simple engagement for now?”  

“The whole idea still feels overwhelming. I’m not even of age yet…”  

“Then I could wait until you come of age?”  

Though this wasn’t her situation to intervene in, Cordelia gently patted Sophie’s hand, which was gripping her arm. This seemed to give the girl some courage, as she was still holding up relatively well.  

“I’m not sure about that either. Isn’t it enough that I just don’t want to get married?”  

“Lady Sophia, is it that you don’t like me?”  

“It’s not that… I just feel sorry, Sir.”  

“In that case, please give me just one chance. I don’t want things to end like this.”  

“Even so…”  

Despite Sophie’s attempts to speak gently, likely out of consideration for the woman who appeared to be a noble lady (Cordelia), it was clear to Cordelia that the man’s patience was wearing thin.  

Maybe she should step in and chase him off herself.  

As Cordelia pondered this, the man stepped closer to her.  

“Excuse me, but I have a matter to discuss with the young lady in private. May I ask for your understanding?”  

“I’m afraid I have a prior engagement.”  

Cordelia smiled sweetly as she refused him, but he tried to persuade her again.

“It’s a family matter. Surely, you understand it’s not something for a lady like yourself to interfere with.”  

Cordelia raised an eyebrow.

“From what I overheard, it doesn’t sound like you’re married yet, so what family matter are you talking about?”  

“We are about to be married.”

The man replied curtly.  

It seemed he had boasted to the girl’s parents that he would convince her to agree.  

Cordelia quickly sized up the situation, suppressing her disgust as she looked at the man, who stared at her as if mesmerized.  

Why is he looking like that in front of his supposed fiancée?  

“If you wish to speak with the young lady, I suggest you do so in a formal setting, arranged properly. There’s no need to ask for my permission.”

Cordelia said, subtly pointing out his rudeness.  

Instead of responding, the man reached for Sophie’s arm, which was gripping Cordelia’s, but before his fingers could make contact, another hand intercepted him.  

“What do you think you’re doing?”  

Noah had stepped between them, grabbing the man’s wrist and positioning himself protectively in front of Cordelia and Sophie. His voice was calm but firm.  

“Whatever the matter is, it seems the lady does not wish to continue this conversation. I suggest you leave it at that.”  

“Let go of me.”

The man demanded, though more politely than before, clearly unwilling to dismiss Noah. It seemed Noah’s carefully chosen attire had done its job, commanding a level of respect. Cordelia, meanwhile, couldn’t help but admire how broad Noah’s back was from her vantage point.  

“I will only release you once you promise to step back.”  

“This is outrageous.” 

“I suggest you reflect on who first crossed the line of propriety.”  

Noah applied a bit more pressure, though the man showed no sign of pain as he shook off Noah’s grip.  

“Move aside.”  

“I must refuse.”  

“It will only take a moment!”  

“Forgive my boldness, but I fail to see how your situation justifies going against the lady’s wishes.”

“You’re acting as if I’m going to do something improper to her!”

The man shot back, his frustration growing.  

“Even if that’s not your intention, it wouldn’t be a knight’s duty to force the other person when they don’t want it.”  

“That’s not the issue here—!”

The man’s speech sped up, his voice betraying a hint of desperation. Noah narrowed his eyes, observing him closely.  

Ah, could it be…  

“Excuse me, are you in need of money?”